Halkett Bay Marine Provincial Park

About This Park

Located in scenic Howe Sound, Halkett Bay is typical of the glaciated coastline found in the sound. The steeply sloped mountains, rugged coastlines, and the scattered islands and waters of the sound offer a breathtaking visual experience.

Howe Sound has long been popular with pleasure boaters because of its close proximity to Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Squamish population. Halkett Bay is currently used by boaters for both day-use and recreational activities such as swimming, wilderness camping, kayaking, picnicking, hiking to Mount Artaban and overnight moorage. The park provides one buoy, one dinghy dock and one pit toilet.

Location and Maps

Halkett Bay Provincial Park is located on the southeastern shore of Gambier Island, 15 km from Horseshoe Bay. Located 40 km from marinas in Vancouver and 10 km from Lions Bay, it is well within day-use range of most boaters.

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only – they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Management Planning

Approved Master Plan. [PDF 682.96KB]DISCLAIMER:
This is NOT the original management planning product. This document has been scanned from the original format of the plan. It may contain some formatting changes, however the content is consistent with the original.

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking in this park. Pebble Beach provides good access. There are 3 developed boat access only campsites with picnic tables and 1 pit toilet. No campfires are permitted anywhere within the park. No camping permitted on islands. Be sensitive to shoreline vegetation. Utilize only established campsites. There are no garbage services – You are responsible to pack out your garbage. There is a small pocket of private property and development adjacent to the park. Respect their property including their mooring facilities. Kayak rentals are available in Vancouver.

Cycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Fishing

Tidal water fishing is available. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Hiking

For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.

This park has hiking and/or walking trails. There is a moderately strenuous 10 km (approx 6 hr) day hike to Mount Artaban through the Georgia Strait lowland forest with an elevation gain of 610 metres. At the top of Mount Artaban you can view out 360 degrees over Howe Sound and see such features as Black Mountain, Deeks Peak, the Tantalus and Garibaldi Ranges, Bowen Island and the San Juan Islands just to name a few. Also located on this site are the remnants of an old forest service lookout. A rough trail also leads to Brigade Bay on Gambier Island’s eastern shore.

Pets on Leash

Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour, and must pack out and dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Scuba Diving

There are SCUBA diving and snorkelling opportunities at the park but there are no developed dive facilities.

Swimming

There is cold water ocean swimming at this park. The beach area is pebbles/cobbles. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

Wildlife Viewing

There is no viewing platform but Mount Artaban offers spectacular views of the Howe Sound area and nice views of marine foreshores. Deer frequent this park and you may see the occasional seal and marine waterfowl.

Winter Recreation

Winter camping is permitted in this park but campsites have limited services.

Facilities Available at this Park

Pit or Flush Toilets

This park has pit toilets – no flush toilets. There is 1 pit toilet available near the information kiosk.

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed. There are 3 developed boat access only campsites with picnic tables and 1 pit toilet. These walk-in sites are boat accessible all year. No campfires are permitted anywhere within the park. No camping permitted on islands. Be sensitive to shoreline vegetation. Utilize only established campsites. There are no garbage services – you are responsible to pack out your garbage.

There is a small pocket of private property and development adjacent to
the park – respect their property including their mooring facilities. The
park is open year round and winter camping is permitted in this park but
campsites have limited services.

BC Parks Backcountry Registration System allows you to pre-pay your overnight fees for backcountry and/or marine site usage, where designated. This system will not be used for vehicle accessible (ie front country) campgrounds or controlled back country permits (ie Bowron Lakes canoe circuit and Berg Lake Trail).

Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night for all persons 6 years of age or older.

Marine facilites include one (1) mooring buoy and dingy float. Good
anchorage is available without stern ties. The bay is open to the south.
The mooring buoy is on the left hand side as you are heading in. The
buoy is large, square, yellow (fades in the off-season) and made of
tires and wood. Keep in mind that there are a number of rocks that
protrude above the water in the middle of the bay. The buoy is before those
rocks on the left side.

Chief marine hazards are a series of unmarked drying rocks and reefs in
the bay’s northwest corner, and an unmarked rock at a depth of less
than six (6’) feet in mid-fairway near the head. The favoured approach
is to the steep eastern shoreline. Nearest marinas are located at Lions
Bay and Horseshoe Bay.